CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km), follow
these recommendations to obtain maximum
engine performance and ensure the future reli-
ability and economy of your new vehicle. Fail-
ure to follow these recommendations may re-
sult in shortened engine life and reduced
engine performance.
c Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow. Do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
c Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
c Avoid quick starts.
c Avoid hard braking as much as possible. c
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
c Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
c Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles.
c Select a gear range suitable to road condi-
tions.
c Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
c Keep your engine tuned up.
c Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
c Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
c Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im-
proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
c Climate control operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
c When cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag. c
Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(See ªENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER RECOM-
MENDATIONº in the ª9. Technical and con-
sumer informationº section.)
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-46Starting and driving
wÐ
Ð
05/15/09Ðpattie
X
8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement.......................... 8-2
Scheduled maintenance ........................ 8-2
General maintenance ........................... 8-2
Where to go for service ......................... 8-2
General maintenance .............................. 8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ............... 8-2
Maintenance precautions .......................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................ 8-6
VK45DE engine ................................. 8-6
VQ35HR engine ................................ 8-8
Engine cooling system ............................ 8-10
Checking engine coolant level ...................8-11
Changing engine coolant ........................ 8-11
Engine oil ....................................... 8-12
Checking engine oil level ......................8-12
Changing engine oil and filter ..................8-12
Automatic transmission fluid ......................8-15
5-speed automatic transmission ................8-15
7-speed automatic transmission ................8-15
Power steering fluid .............................. 8-16
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-16
Brake fluid ................................... 8-16
Window washer fluid ............................. 8-17
Battery .......................................... 8-17
Jump starting ................................. 8-19Variable voltage control system (if so equipped)
....8-19
Drive belts ....................................... 8-19
Spark plugs ..................................... 8-20
Replacing spark plugs ......................... 8-21
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-21
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-22
Cleaning ...................................... 8-22
Replacing ..................................... 8-23
Brakes .......................................... 8-24
Self-adjusting brakes .......................... 8-24
Brake pad wear warnings ......................8-24
Fuses ........................................... 8-25
Engine compartment ........................... 8-25
Passenger compartment ....................... 8-27
Battery replacement .............................. 8-28
Intelligent Key ................................ 8-28
Lights ........................................... 8-30
Headlights .................................... 8-31
Exterior and interior lights .....................8-32
Wheels and tires ................................. 8-34
Tire pressure .................................. 8-34
Tire labeling .................................. 8-38
Types of tires ................................. 8-40
Tire chains ................................... 8-41
Changing wheels and tires..................... 8-41
wÐ
Ð
05/15/09Ðpattie
X
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care to
prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are gen-
eral precautions which should be closely ob-
served.
WARNING
cPark the vehicle on a level surface, apply the
parking brake securely and block the wheels
to prevent the vehicle from moving. Move
the selector lever to P (Park).
c Be sure the ignition switch is in the LOCK
position when performing any parts replace-
ment or repairs.
c If you must work with the engine running,
keep your hands, clothing, hair and tools
away from moving fans, belts and any other
moving parts.
c It is advisable to secure or remove any loose
clothing and remove any jewelry, such as
rings, watches, etc. before working on your
vehicle.
c Always wear eye protection whenever you
work on your vehicle. c
If you must run the engine in an enclosed
space such as a garage, be sure there is
proper ventilation for exhaust gases to
escape.
c Never get under the vehicle while it is sup-
ported only by a jack. If it is necessary to
work under the vehicle, support it with
safety stands.
c Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks
away from fuel tank and the battery.
c Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
engine cooling fan. It may come on at any
time without warning, even if the ignition
key is in the OFF position and the engine is
not running. To avoid injury, always discon-
nect the negative battery cable before work-
ing near the fan.
c The fuel filter or fuel lines should be serviced
by an INFINITI retailer because the fuel lines
are under high pressure even when the en-
gine is off.
CAUTION
cDo not work under the hood while the engine
is hot. Turn the engine off and wait until it
cools down. c
Avoid direct contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil, en-
gine coolant and/or other vehicle fluids can
damage the environment. Always conform to
local regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
c Never connect or disconnect the battery or
any transistorized component while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.
c Never leave the engine or automatic trans-
mission related component harnesses dis-
connected while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
This ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº sec-
tion gives instructions regarding only those
items which are relatively easy for an owner to
perform.
A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is also avail-
able. (See ªOWNER'S MANUAL/SERVICE
MANUAL ORDER INFORMATIONº in the ª9. Tech-
nical and consumer informationº section.)
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could affect
warranty coverage. If in doubt about any servic-
ing, we recommend that it be done by an INFINITI
retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
wÐ
Ð
05/19/09Ðtbrooks
X
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
s1.
If the oil level is below
s2, remove the oil
filler cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening. Do not overfill
s3.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil mainte-
nance intervals or during the break-in period,
depending on the severity of operating condi-
tions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Operat-
ing the engine with an insufficient amount of oil
can damage the engine, and such damage is
not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
Change the engine oil and filter according to the
maintenance intervals shown in the INFINITI
Service and Maintenance Guide.
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.
cPlace the safety jack stands under the
vehicle jack-up points.
c A suitable adapter should be attached to
the jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the plastic engine undercover.
a. Remove the small plastic clip at the center
point of the undercover.
b. Then remove the other bolts that hold the undercover in place.
VK45DE engine
SDI1822
VQ35HR engine
SDI2045
ENGINE OIL
8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
wÐ
Ð
05/19/09Ðtbrooks
X
Engine oil and filter
1. Place a large drain pan under the drainplug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug
s1with a wrench
and completely drain the oil.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the engine oil
is hot.
cWaste oil must be disposed of properly.
c Check your local regulations.
Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the engine oil
filter change is needed.
4. Loosen the oil filters2with an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it
by hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting sur- face with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old rubber gasket re-
maining on the mounting surface of the engine.
Failure to do so could lead to engine failure.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil.
7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten ad-
ditionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:11 to 15 ft-lb
(14.7 to 20.5 N´m)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N´m)
Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and install the oil filler cap securely.
CAUTION
The dipstick must be inserted in place to pre-
vent oil spillage from the dipstick hole while
filling the engine with oil.
See ªCAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTSº in the ª9. Technical and
consumer informationº section for drain and refill capacity. The drain and refill capacity
depends on the oil temperature and drain time.
Use these specifications for reference only.
Always use the dipstick to determine the proper
amount of oil in the engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover into positionas the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into position.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover into the hole in the frame, then push the
center of the clip in to lock the clip in
place.
d. Install the other bolts that hold the un- dercover in place. Be careful not to strip
the bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
8-14Maintenance and do-it-yourself
wÐ
Ð
05/15/09Ðpattie
X
9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants........ 9-2
Fuel recommendation ........................... 9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ......... 9-6
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ..................... 9-7
Specifications ..................................... 9-8
Engine ........................................ 9-8
Wheels and tires ............................... 9-9
Dimensions and weights ....................... 9-10
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country .................................. 9-10
Vehicle identification .............................. 9-11
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate......... 9-11
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) ............................... 9-11
Engine serial number .......................... 9-12
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label .........9-12
Emission control information label ..............9-12
Tire and loading information label ..............9-13
Air conditioner specification label ...............9-13Installing front license plate
.......................9-14
Vehicle loading information ........................9-15
Terms ......................................... 9-15
Vehicle load capacity .......................... 9-16
Loading tips .................................. 9-17
Measurement of weights ....................... 9-18
Towing a trailer .................................. 9-18
Flat towing ...................................... 9-19
Automatic transmission ........................ 9-19
Uniform tire quality grading .......................9-19
Treadwear .................................... 9-19
Traction AA, A, B and C ........................ 9-20
Temperature A, B and C ....................... 9-20
Emission control system warranty .................9-20
Reporting safety defects (US only) .................9-21
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test ....9-22
Event Data Recorders (EDR) .......................9-23
Owner's Manual/Service Manual order
information ...................................... 9-23
In the event of a collision ......................9-24
wÐ
Ð
05/19/09Ðtbrooks
X
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure instructed in the ª8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)Recommended specifications
US measure
Imp measureLiter
Fuel 20 gal 16-5/8 gal 76 See ªFUEL RECOMMENDATIONº later in this section.
Engine oil*1
Drain and refill With oil filter change VK45DE AWD 6-1/8 qt 5-1/8 qt 5.8 ·Engine oil with API Certification Mark*2, *3
·Viscosity SAE 5W-30*2, *3
2WD 5-7/8 qt 4-7/8 qt 5.5
VQ35HR AWD/2WD 5-1/8 qt 4-3/8 qt 4.9
Without oil filter change VK45DE AWD 5-1/2 qt 4-5/8 qt 5.2
2WD 5-1/8 qt 4-3/8 qt 4.9
VQ35HR AWD/2WD 4-7/8 qt 4 qt 4.6
Cooling system With reservoir VK45DE 11 qt 9-1/8 qt 10.4 50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
VQ35HR 9-3/4 qt 8-1/8 qt 9.2
Reservoir 7/8 qt 3/4 qt 0.8
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ÐÐÐ Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF*4
Differential gear oil ÐÐÐ Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5, 80W-90 or API
GL-5, Viscosity SAE 80W-90*5
Transfer fluid ÐÐÐ Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF*6
Power Steering Fluid (PSF) Refill to the proper oil level according to
the instructions in the ª8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourselfº section. Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent*7
Brake fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*8 or equivalent DOT 3
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
wÐ
Ð
05/15/09Ðpattie
X
Capacity (Approximate)Recommended specifications
US measure
Imp measureLiter
Multi-purpose grease NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant ÐÐÐ HFC-134a (R-134a)*9
Air conditioning system lubricants ÐÐÐ NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or exact equivalent
Window washer fluid ÐÐÐ Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-
freeze or equivalent
*1:For additional information, see ªENGINE OILº in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section for changing engine oil.
*2: For additional information, see ªENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER RECOMMENDATIONº later in this section.
*3: INFINITI recommends Genuine NISSAN Ester Oil available at your INFINITI retailer.
*4: For 5-speed AT: If Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF is not available, Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF may also be used. Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic
S ATF or Matic J ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic transmission, which is not covered by the INFINITI
new vehicle limited warranty.
For 7-speed AT: Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may
damage the automatic transmission, which is not covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty.
*5: For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 32ÉF (0ÉC).
*6:
If Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF is not available, Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF or Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid or equivalent (if
available) may also be used.
*7:
DEXRONTMVI type ATF or Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid may also be used.
*8: Available in mainland US through an INFINITI retailer.
*9: For additional information, see ªVEHICLE IDENTIFICATIONº later in this section for air conditioner specification label.
Technical and consumer information9-3
wÐ
Ð
05/15/09Ðpattie
X